(DISCLAIMER)
I do not own anything having anything to do with Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing,
Sunrise Inc., or anything else that could make me quite a bit of money.
Chapter 3: Black Out
"So where exactly are they headed?" Quatre asks at the Friday meeting.
Lady Une, in turn, replies, "That is what you all need to find out. All of our scouts and spies show this is the last leg of their trip. We quickly lose them after leaving this point."
"You're leading us into a possible ambush," Trowa accuses.
"We have no reason to believe they would expect the Gundams presence or even have enough man power to even compete with the like of you," Lady Une preaches.
"All of us aren't who we were three years ago," Heero explains. "It is a mistake to put too much faith in our abilities which have gone dangerously untested for quite some time."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm still in rare form!" Duo brags obnoxiously.
"Be quiet, fool," Wufei barks. "Could you be serious about these missions for once or is your mind still with that little woman."
Duo's pleasant expression quickly changes to an annoyed look.
"That reminds me, the maneuver will be code named Operation Black-Out," Lady Une interrupts.
"Continue," Heero orders.
"Colonel Po." Lady Une speaks.
"Operation Black Out is mainly a information acquisition run, but with our firepower we will also intercept. This is a great opportunity to see what Vanguard is actually up to and maybe even see how far they are along in their invention," Sally recites.
"The plan is laid out with the major points being waiting around until the usual 'black out' point is reached, or where usually radar contact is lost, and then intercept the craft. But, as opposed to destroying the enemy transport they are to attempt to occupy by disabling computer systems and leaving it drifting in space for pickup. The overall plan is for Duo to keep close tabs while remaining cloaked. Heero and Trowa will stay out of radar range while being ready to pounce as soon as 'Black Out Point' is reached. While the others patrol in case information gets out about the assault."
Duo proceeds to make it a point to be assured he will be back home by Monday. That earns him looks that scream 'pathetic' by the other pilots. However, most were thinking asking that anyway.
---Meanwhile (SM - School)--- "How are you doing, Makoto?" Minako gleams as Makoto walks to the lunch table, bag lunch in hand.
"I'm doing a lot better, thank you Minako," Makoto replies. "How about all of you?"
A small muttering is heard from somewhere around the table and upon further inspection Ami is seen muttering to herself as she eats over her math book.
"If the hypotenuse is the square root of the each edge squared," Ami thinks aloud, "then the hypotenuse of a similar triangle would.why has everyone stopped talking?" Ami looks up innocently and notices everyone looking at her with the proverbial 'deer in the headlights' look. "Uh, you guys all right?" she responds to the looks.
"And when exactly are we going to have to learn all of that Ami?" Rei worries.
"Yeah, I didn't understand one word you said until you said triangle," Usagi complains.
"Oh my, don't worry so much all of you.you won't learn this for some time and you will understand it anyway when you get there," Ami comforts.
"What.you mean that we will have to become nerds somewhere along the line?" Usagi sighs.
"I'll bet you a lot, Mamoru will help you when you get there, Usagi," Ami responds.
"Yeah, do you want us to get your nerdy glasses now or later?" Rei ridicules.
"Never!" Usagi yelps before chomping into her sandwich to hide her embarrassment.
"You girls torture her way too often," Hotaru utters as she and Chibi-Usa walk up to the lunch table.
"She deserves it, I'm sure Hotaru," Chibi-Usa reasons.
".So, how is your day Hotaru?" Makoto asks changing the subject before Usagi and Chibi-Usa get into another characteristic battle.
"It is going well, Hotaru replies, "I am also glad Setsuna brought me back early enough so you can help me with my homework which is getting awfully tough now."
"We are here for you, Hotaru," Minako cheerfully answers.
Hotaru blushes a little and waves Minako off while embarrassedly stating, "Thank you."
"So, what are we all doing after school?" Chibi-Usa asks.
"Well, we are headed to Rei's place for our usual meeting with Luna and Artemis which ought to be brief, then we all have some considerable studying to do for a test at the end of the week," Ami replies.
"Yay, I'm coming too," Chibi-Usa cheers.
"Not for long though, Chibi-Usa," Hotaru retorts, "You have some math homework of your own to do. I also hear from your teacher that you are having trouble with it."
"But Hotaru," Chibi-Usa whines.
"But nothing, when your grades come up then you can hang out with all of us more, okay," Hotaru scolds.
"Yes, Hotaru," Chibi-Usa sighs dejectedly.
The girls look at Hotaru shocked. Hotaru turns and smiles.
"I guess this happens when you have to help take care of children regularly," Hotaru jokes.
The lunch bell rings and the girls begin to get up from the table.
"Yeah, especially when that child is a younger version of yourself, right Hotaru?" Rei pokes.
The group giggles together and parts way to finish the rest of the day of school.
---Meanwhile (GW - 'Classified')--- "All right, delta wave point reached," Quatre states, "What is everyone's position?"
"Here," Trowa mumbles quickly.
"Present," Wufei coughs.
"Heero?" Quatre inquires.
Silence. 'He never like to talk during the mission unless necessary,' Quatre ponders.
"Here is the situation, we have the transporter being followed closely by the cloaked DeathScythe which appears not to have been given away yet." Quatre reports.
"Wing Zero and HeavyArms are to remain 30 clicks from the group. While Altron and SandRock patrol the area. There are two extra ships accompanying the transporter. Each of a type we haven't seen before, but aren't big enough to carry enough mobile suits to give us a problem. Duo also reported a strange antenna on the nose of the transporter." Quatre continues to report.
"All in all, nothing too threatening, but keep on your guard." Quatre begins to finish his report but is interrupted by Wufei.
"Unknown contact 45 clicks, 10'o'clock high, moving parallel to us and at us at 55 cubic miles per hour, investigating," Wufei recites in a calm military manner.
"Report quickly, Wufei," Quatre snaps. 'What could evade a Gundam's 100 clicks radar up until 45 cubic miles?' he thinks.
"Radar reports a transport vehicle, stand-by," Wufei again reports militaristically.
The hair on Quatre's neck stands up, 'A transporter? Could've they known about this mission? Darn it, I wish I knew what was going on!'
"15 clicks from target, visual shortly." Wufei spouts again.
Silence for about a minute and a half was an eternity to Quatre; the stealthy mission's success depended heavily not being noticed. It all came down to this reconnaissance.
A sign is heard over the secret Gundam communication channel. "Negative contact, it is a ancient goods freighter headed to earth." Wufei angrily wafts over the airwaves.
"He evaded our radars because his radar is so old and decrepit. He did change course when I got close so he knows something is out here. So shall I destroy him?" Wufei pleads.
"No, no Wufei, that is the last think we need now. Don't even think it, you get your chance to destroy something later." Quatre orders.
"Bah, what a fool," Wufei mutters to himself.
The mission continues for a while without any further incidents. The Gundams remain tailing the transport until Quatre speaks over the secured line, "Black out point coming up."
Heero and Trowa both do quick diagnostic checks on their suits and simply reply, "Affirmative."
Duo now speeds ahead of the transport group and prepares for a nice surprise as Quatre counts down, "Operation Black Out commences in 3.2.1.Disable."
With that, Heavyarms hurls itself after the convoy while DeathScythe reveals it position with scythe in hand. Upon seeing DeathScythe the transport quickly dives down while the first of the two mystery ships opens it roof and actually starts deploying mobile suits, Taurus variant.
"As I thought," the emotionless Heero states as his already charged buster rifle ignites and fires off its devastating beam. The beam races past the expecting HeavyArms and nails the second craft before the doors even open completely. DeathScythe wastes no time chasing after the four suits that actually cleared the first carrier before HeavyArms uses its guns to tear it to shreds. The transporter was moving away fast though. Wing Zero charges after it jet- form catching up quickly. Wing Zero gets within a quarter cubic mile, reverts to suit form, and fires a tractor cord. "Black Out initiated," Heero mutters.
"Not so fast you fools," an unfamiliar voice rings out over the massively overused military communication radio bands.
The antenna on the nose of the craft begins glowing and fires a tight laser beam about one cubic mile ahead of the craft creating a surging explosion. The craft races for the blast, Heero in tow.
"Not so fast yourself," Heero replies as he begins tapping away at Zero's computer system. All of a sudden, his display begins to surge and distort. Heero, unfazed does a lightning fast diagnostic to make sure Zero isn't to blame. The display comes up with some startling news.
"That explosion is giving off a magnetic pulse, you may want to keep your distance." Heero reports.
"Magnetic pulse?" Trowa questions. "Are you being pulled in or pushed away by it?"
Silence.
"On my way," Trowa boldly but calmly responds.
"What is going on down there?" Wufei demands.
"Heero is being drawn into an abnormal explosion and I'm going to get him out." Trowa responds.
"What are you planning to do Trowa?" Quatre inquires.
"What I must," Trowa darkly mutters.
The transporter enters the explosion area and actually begins to seemingly fade away. Trowa sees this and punches the speed a little more. Zero, now completely disabled is looking to be pulled in by nothing more than the tow cable. Heavyarms rams itself right into Wing Zero's side jarring it loose from the cable and the two begin to float away.begin.
As soon as Trowa gets his bearings, he notices his systems are malfunctioning. He takes a look out what is left of his visual and notices himself and Zero being pulled in together by a mysterious magnetic force caused by the explosion.
"Heero can you hear me?" Trowa snaps calmly over a universal radio channel.
"Only short range.we are in quite some trouble." Heero mutters.
"What do you suppose that explosion is?" Trowa continues as he switches over to the short-range radio.
"The transport didn't vaporize when it entered it, but rather it disappeared," Heero states with a slight concern in his voice. "Basically, I have no idea."
"Than I guess we ride it out," Trowa sighs.
Heero replies, "Roger that." Then proceeds to think to himself, 'Relena.'
---Meanwhile (GW - Sank Kingdom)
Relena sits quietly awaiting her plane to leave reading a book and contemplating her next meeting. All of a sudden a bad feeling hits her.
Out of nowhere she hears Heero's voice."Relena."
She sits in her seat, now visibly worried. She thinks to herself hoping Heero will hear her thoughts, 'Heero.'
---Meanwhile (SM - Enroute to Rei's Temple)---
Ami strolls down the street paging though a book she was just assigned in her literature class. 'This book should be all right, but I will read it later,' she thinks to herself. Just as she takes her eyes off the book she notices Makoto ahead of her talking with Minako. Upon closer inspection, she notices Makoto is in a much better mood than earlier. She casually walks up to the two girls and greets them.
"Hi, girls. What is going on?" Ami asks.
"Oh not much, I'm telling Makoto about the new cute guy this year on the boy's volleyball team." Minako gleams.
Ami giggles, "Between you and Usagi, I don't think there is any boys more me or Makoto to even consider having to ourselves. Nevertheless, Usagi continually bothers me about picking one."
"Don't think I don't give Makoto a hard time," Minako stabs. "I swear she's waiting for a guy that could beat her up before even considering."
"Well, there was one a while ago, and I thought about pursuing him." Makoto returns.
"Are you telling me there was a boy that had the ability to beat you, Makoto?" the instantly appearing Usagi acquires. "What happened?"
"Well perhaps you can tell me, Usagi.his name was Mamoru!" Makoto belts out laughing.
"He's mine!" Usagi defensively squeals meeting the others expectations on her reaction.
"I got a great idea, I'm gonna go to his house and tell him about the secret crush I have on him!" Makoto beams jokingly.
"You will not," Usagi yells out as her friend runs off towards her boyfriends place and gives pursuit herself.
The other girls follow the raucous, laughing the whole way. They ran until a dull boom is heard, almost like an explosion. All stop dead in their tracks as the laughing and fun stops. Out of the corner of Minako's eye she spot a strange surging explosion.
"What in the world is going on over there?" Minako screams.
The other turn to where Minako was looking and gasp at the image of a damaged craft emerging out of the explosion just outside of their sector of the city.
Chapter 3: Black Out
"So where exactly are they headed?" Quatre asks at the Friday meeting.
Lady Une, in turn, replies, "That is what you all need to find out. All of our scouts and spies show this is the last leg of their trip. We quickly lose them after leaving this point."
"You're leading us into a possible ambush," Trowa accuses.
"We have no reason to believe they would expect the Gundams presence or even have enough man power to even compete with the like of you," Lady Une preaches.
"All of us aren't who we were three years ago," Heero explains. "It is a mistake to put too much faith in our abilities which have gone dangerously untested for quite some time."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm still in rare form!" Duo brags obnoxiously.
"Be quiet, fool," Wufei barks. "Could you be serious about these missions for once or is your mind still with that little woman."
Duo's pleasant expression quickly changes to an annoyed look.
"That reminds me, the maneuver will be code named Operation Black-Out," Lady Une interrupts.
"Continue," Heero orders.
"Colonel Po." Lady Une speaks.
"Operation Black Out is mainly a information acquisition run, but with our firepower we will also intercept. This is a great opportunity to see what Vanguard is actually up to and maybe even see how far they are along in their invention," Sally recites.
"The plan is laid out with the major points being waiting around until the usual 'black out' point is reached, or where usually radar contact is lost, and then intercept the craft. But, as opposed to destroying the enemy transport they are to attempt to occupy by disabling computer systems and leaving it drifting in space for pickup. The overall plan is for Duo to keep close tabs while remaining cloaked. Heero and Trowa will stay out of radar range while being ready to pounce as soon as 'Black Out Point' is reached. While the others patrol in case information gets out about the assault."
Duo proceeds to make it a point to be assured he will be back home by Monday. That earns him looks that scream 'pathetic' by the other pilots. However, most were thinking asking that anyway.
---Meanwhile (SM - School)--- "How are you doing, Makoto?" Minako gleams as Makoto walks to the lunch table, bag lunch in hand.
"I'm doing a lot better, thank you Minako," Makoto replies. "How about all of you?"
A small muttering is heard from somewhere around the table and upon further inspection Ami is seen muttering to herself as she eats over her math book.
"If the hypotenuse is the square root of the each edge squared," Ami thinks aloud, "then the hypotenuse of a similar triangle would.why has everyone stopped talking?" Ami looks up innocently and notices everyone looking at her with the proverbial 'deer in the headlights' look. "Uh, you guys all right?" she responds to the looks.
"And when exactly are we going to have to learn all of that Ami?" Rei worries.
"Yeah, I didn't understand one word you said until you said triangle," Usagi complains.
"Oh my, don't worry so much all of you.you won't learn this for some time and you will understand it anyway when you get there," Ami comforts.
"What.you mean that we will have to become nerds somewhere along the line?" Usagi sighs.
"I'll bet you a lot, Mamoru will help you when you get there, Usagi," Ami responds.
"Yeah, do you want us to get your nerdy glasses now or later?" Rei ridicules.
"Never!" Usagi yelps before chomping into her sandwich to hide her embarrassment.
"You girls torture her way too often," Hotaru utters as she and Chibi-Usa walk up to the lunch table.
"She deserves it, I'm sure Hotaru," Chibi-Usa reasons.
".So, how is your day Hotaru?" Makoto asks changing the subject before Usagi and Chibi-Usa get into another characteristic battle.
"It is going well, Hotaru replies, "I am also glad Setsuna brought me back early enough so you can help me with my homework which is getting awfully tough now."
"We are here for you, Hotaru," Minako cheerfully answers.
Hotaru blushes a little and waves Minako off while embarrassedly stating, "Thank you."
"So, what are we all doing after school?" Chibi-Usa asks.
"Well, we are headed to Rei's place for our usual meeting with Luna and Artemis which ought to be brief, then we all have some considerable studying to do for a test at the end of the week," Ami replies.
"Yay, I'm coming too," Chibi-Usa cheers.
"Not for long though, Chibi-Usa," Hotaru retorts, "You have some math homework of your own to do. I also hear from your teacher that you are having trouble with it."
"But Hotaru," Chibi-Usa whines.
"But nothing, when your grades come up then you can hang out with all of us more, okay," Hotaru scolds.
"Yes, Hotaru," Chibi-Usa sighs dejectedly.
The girls look at Hotaru shocked. Hotaru turns and smiles.
"I guess this happens when you have to help take care of children regularly," Hotaru jokes.
The lunch bell rings and the girls begin to get up from the table.
"Yeah, especially when that child is a younger version of yourself, right Hotaru?" Rei pokes.
The group giggles together and parts way to finish the rest of the day of school.
---Meanwhile (GW - 'Classified')--- "All right, delta wave point reached," Quatre states, "What is everyone's position?"
"Here," Trowa mumbles quickly.
"Present," Wufei coughs.
"Heero?" Quatre inquires.
Silence. 'He never like to talk during the mission unless necessary,' Quatre ponders.
"Here is the situation, we have the transporter being followed closely by the cloaked DeathScythe which appears not to have been given away yet." Quatre reports.
"Wing Zero and HeavyArms are to remain 30 clicks from the group. While Altron and SandRock patrol the area. There are two extra ships accompanying the transporter. Each of a type we haven't seen before, but aren't big enough to carry enough mobile suits to give us a problem. Duo also reported a strange antenna on the nose of the transporter." Quatre continues to report.
"All in all, nothing too threatening, but keep on your guard." Quatre begins to finish his report but is interrupted by Wufei.
"Unknown contact 45 clicks, 10'o'clock high, moving parallel to us and at us at 55 cubic miles per hour, investigating," Wufei recites in a calm military manner.
"Report quickly, Wufei," Quatre snaps. 'What could evade a Gundam's 100 clicks radar up until 45 cubic miles?' he thinks.
"Radar reports a transport vehicle, stand-by," Wufei again reports militaristically.
The hair on Quatre's neck stands up, 'A transporter? Could've they known about this mission? Darn it, I wish I knew what was going on!'
"15 clicks from target, visual shortly." Wufei spouts again.
Silence for about a minute and a half was an eternity to Quatre; the stealthy mission's success depended heavily not being noticed. It all came down to this reconnaissance.
A sign is heard over the secret Gundam communication channel. "Negative contact, it is a ancient goods freighter headed to earth." Wufei angrily wafts over the airwaves.
"He evaded our radars because his radar is so old and decrepit. He did change course when I got close so he knows something is out here. So shall I destroy him?" Wufei pleads.
"No, no Wufei, that is the last think we need now. Don't even think it, you get your chance to destroy something later." Quatre orders.
"Bah, what a fool," Wufei mutters to himself.
The mission continues for a while without any further incidents. The Gundams remain tailing the transport until Quatre speaks over the secured line, "Black out point coming up."
Heero and Trowa both do quick diagnostic checks on their suits and simply reply, "Affirmative."
Duo now speeds ahead of the transport group and prepares for a nice surprise as Quatre counts down, "Operation Black Out commences in 3.2.1.Disable."
With that, Heavyarms hurls itself after the convoy while DeathScythe reveals it position with scythe in hand. Upon seeing DeathScythe the transport quickly dives down while the first of the two mystery ships opens it roof and actually starts deploying mobile suits, Taurus variant.
"As I thought," the emotionless Heero states as his already charged buster rifle ignites and fires off its devastating beam. The beam races past the expecting HeavyArms and nails the second craft before the doors even open completely. DeathScythe wastes no time chasing after the four suits that actually cleared the first carrier before HeavyArms uses its guns to tear it to shreds. The transporter was moving away fast though. Wing Zero charges after it jet- form catching up quickly. Wing Zero gets within a quarter cubic mile, reverts to suit form, and fires a tractor cord. "Black Out initiated," Heero mutters.
"Not so fast you fools," an unfamiliar voice rings out over the massively overused military communication radio bands.
The antenna on the nose of the craft begins glowing and fires a tight laser beam about one cubic mile ahead of the craft creating a surging explosion. The craft races for the blast, Heero in tow.
"Not so fast yourself," Heero replies as he begins tapping away at Zero's computer system. All of a sudden, his display begins to surge and distort. Heero, unfazed does a lightning fast diagnostic to make sure Zero isn't to blame. The display comes up with some startling news.
"That explosion is giving off a magnetic pulse, you may want to keep your distance." Heero reports.
"Magnetic pulse?" Trowa questions. "Are you being pulled in or pushed away by it?"
Silence.
"On my way," Trowa boldly but calmly responds.
"What is going on down there?" Wufei demands.
"Heero is being drawn into an abnormal explosion and I'm going to get him out." Trowa responds.
"What are you planning to do Trowa?" Quatre inquires.
"What I must," Trowa darkly mutters.
The transporter enters the explosion area and actually begins to seemingly fade away. Trowa sees this and punches the speed a little more. Zero, now completely disabled is looking to be pulled in by nothing more than the tow cable. Heavyarms rams itself right into Wing Zero's side jarring it loose from the cable and the two begin to float away.begin.
As soon as Trowa gets his bearings, he notices his systems are malfunctioning. He takes a look out what is left of his visual and notices himself and Zero being pulled in together by a mysterious magnetic force caused by the explosion.
"Heero can you hear me?" Trowa snaps calmly over a universal radio channel.
"Only short range.we are in quite some trouble." Heero mutters.
"What do you suppose that explosion is?" Trowa continues as he switches over to the short-range radio.
"The transport didn't vaporize when it entered it, but rather it disappeared," Heero states with a slight concern in his voice. "Basically, I have no idea."
"Than I guess we ride it out," Trowa sighs.
Heero replies, "Roger that." Then proceeds to think to himself, 'Relena.'
---Meanwhile (GW - Sank Kingdom)
Relena sits quietly awaiting her plane to leave reading a book and contemplating her next meeting. All of a sudden a bad feeling hits her.
Out of nowhere she hears Heero's voice."Relena."
She sits in her seat, now visibly worried. She thinks to herself hoping Heero will hear her thoughts, 'Heero.'
---Meanwhile (SM - Enroute to Rei's Temple)---
Ami strolls down the street paging though a book she was just assigned in her literature class. 'This book should be all right, but I will read it later,' she thinks to herself. Just as she takes her eyes off the book she notices Makoto ahead of her talking with Minako. Upon closer inspection, she notices Makoto is in a much better mood than earlier. She casually walks up to the two girls and greets them.
"Hi, girls. What is going on?" Ami asks.
"Oh not much, I'm telling Makoto about the new cute guy this year on the boy's volleyball team." Minako gleams.
Ami giggles, "Between you and Usagi, I don't think there is any boys more me or Makoto to even consider having to ourselves. Nevertheless, Usagi continually bothers me about picking one."
"Don't think I don't give Makoto a hard time," Minako stabs. "I swear she's waiting for a guy that could beat her up before even considering."
"Well, there was one a while ago, and I thought about pursuing him." Makoto returns.
"Are you telling me there was a boy that had the ability to beat you, Makoto?" the instantly appearing Usagi acquires. "What happened?"
"Well perhaps you can tell me, Usagi.his name was Mamoru!" Makoto belts out laughing.
"He's mine!" Usagi defensively squeals meeting the others expectations on her reaction.
"I got a great idea, I'm gonna go to his house and tell him about the secret crush I have on him!" Makoto beams jokingly.
"You will not," Usagi yells out as her friend runs off towards her boyfriends place and gives pursuit herself.
The other girls follow the raucous, laughing the whole way. They ran until a dull boom is heard, almost like an explosion. All stop dead in their tracks as the laughing and fun stops. Out of the corner of Minako's eye she spot a strange surging explosion.
"What in the world is going on over there?" Minako screams.
The other turn to where Minako was looking and gasp at the image of a damaged craft emerging out of the explosion just outside of their sector of the city.